House of Representatives

SB 1201

Limitations period; federal tax deficiencies

Sponsor: Sen. Bundgaard

 

X

Committee on Ways and Means

 

Caucus and COW

 

Third Read

 

 

As Passed the House

 

SB 1201 provides for extensions for the limitation period for proposing and assessing federal income tax deficiencies based on federal limited consents executed by homebuilders and outlines related claim procedures and policies, retroactive to January 1, 1993.  SB 1201 has a proposed strike-everything amendment that would require employers to pay employees due wages regardless of their immigration status or national origin.

 

History

The alternative cost method allows developers to include, in the basis of properties sold, the estimated future costs of common improvements. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires homebuilders wishing to use the alternative cost method to file federal limited consents. The requirement enables IRS to assess homebuilders for deficiencies arising from projects covered under the federal limited consent, specifically, the alternative cost method.

 

According to Arizona statute, a taxpayer may agree with the IRS for an extension or renewal of the period for proposing and assessing deficiencies in federal income taxes. If such an agreement is made, notices of a proposed income tax deficiency must be mailed within four years of when the return was filed or six months after the expiration of the agreed period for assessing deficiencies. The extension or renewal applies only to items specifically enumerated in the agreement (A.R.S. §42-1104).

 

SB 1201, retroactive to January 1, 1993, provides for extensions for proposing and assessing federal tax deficiencies based on federal limited consents executed by homebuilders and outlines related claim procedures and policies.

 

According to the Department of Revenue, the negative fiscal impact of SB 1201 is $3 million to $4 million in foregone revenues.

 

History of the Proposed Strike-Everything Amendment

In March of this year, the Supreme Court ruled in Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board that the National Labor Relations Act does not protect illegal immigrants if they are fired for organizing a union. 

 

In the case, a Mexican immigrant—Jose Castro—was living and working in the U.S. illegally, and had submitted false documentation in order to work at Hoffman Plastic.  In 1988 the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum, and Plastic Workers began a union-organizing campaign at Hoffman Plastic. Castro and other employees supported the campaign, and helped to distribute authorization cards to his fellow workers. Castro was fired in 1989 along with several other employees for their role in this organizing drive. In 1993 the NLRB found that these dismissals violated the NLRA, and ordered Hoffman Plastic to cease and desist from further violations of the Act. The Board also ordered reinstatement and backpay for Castro, and eventually determined that he was entitled to $66,951 plus interest.

 

However, the Supreme Court found that the backpay remedy was not appropriate, because Castro did not have the right to work at Hoffman Plastic in the first place, due to his immigration status.  The Court voted 5-to-4 in favor of this outcome.

 

The proposed strike-everything amendment to SB 1201 would require employers to pay employees due wages regardless of their immigration status or national origin.

 

Provisions

·          Contains a retroactivity clause of January 1, 1993 for extension periods for proposing and assessing federal income tax deficiencies and proposed income tax notice mailing deadlines for federal limited consents executed by homebuilders.

·          Requires, with respect to certain federal limited consents executed by homebuilders, claims for income tax refunds to be filed by December 31, 2002.

·          Requires taxpayers to furnish evidence for refund claims and basis of entitlement based on assessments for items not included in federal limited consents.

·          Requires the Department of Revenue (DOR) to review all timely claims, determine the correct amount of the claims and notify the taxpayer of its interpretation.

·          Prohibits DOR from making any refunds until all refund claims respecting the federal limited consents executed by homebuilders are processed.

·          Allows DOR, if a taxpayer appeals the interpretation of the claim, to notify other taxpayers filing similar claims of the nature and extent of the delay.

·          Prohibits the aggregate refund amount from exceeding $10,000.

·          Reduces proportionately the amount of each claim if the correct aggregate refund amount exceeds $10,000.

·          Requires interest to be added to claim amounts on refunds that are not paid or cannot be determined by June 30, 2003 if the payments are delayed due to departmental action unrelated to claimant objections.

·          Requires taxpayers making retroactive claims related to the federal limited consents executed by homebuilders to complete waivers of the statute of limitations until the legality of these provisions has been adjudicated.

·          Contains a nonseverability clause.

 

Provisions of the Proposed Strike-Everything Amendment

·        Requires Article 7 of Title 23 Chapter 2, which deals with Payment of Wages, to be applied to all employees in this state regardless of their immigration status or national origin.

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·        45th Legislature                 

·        Second Regular Session      2          April 22, 2002

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